Releasable button-like element

ABSTRACT

A button is integrally formed with a square shaft having one or more axially spaced recesses. A grommet is provided with a lip which releasably mates with such recesses to form a fabric clamp. The grommet has an outer flange portion which extends axially of the shaft from the lip such that insertion in the diametrically opposite position provides a completely different spacing, for accommodating correspondingly different thicknesses of fabrics.

United States Patent Erickson Sept. 12, 1972 541 RELEASABLE BUTTON-LIKEELEMENT [72] Inventor: Marlin D. Erickson, Cedar Rapids,

Iowa

[73] Assignee: Janet E. Erikson, Hiawatha, Iowa a part interest [22]Filed: Oct. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 81,810

[52] US. Cl ..-..24/l08, 85/5, 24/208 A, 24/90 PR, 24/216 [51] Int. Cl...A44b 1/38 [58] Field of Search....24/107, 108, 208 A, 217, 216, 24/90RR, 90 E, 90 D, 90 A, 90 B, 42; 85/5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,978 8/1915 Manning..24/91 2,552,066 5/1951 Sorensen ..'..24/2 1 7 3,120,971 2/1964Bengtsson ..85/5 R 485,848 11/1892 Perrine ..24/ l 08 PrimaryExaminerBobby R. Gay Assistant ExaminerGarry Moore Attorney-Andrus,Sceales, Starke & Sawall [5 7] ABSTRACT A button is integrally formedwith a square shaft having one or more axially spaced recesses. Agrommet is provided with a lip which releasably mates with such recessesto form a fabric clamp. The grommet has an outer flange portion whichextends axially of the shaft from the lip such that insertion in thediametrically opposite position provides a completely different spacing,for accommodating correspondingly different thicknesses of fabrics.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED i973 3.689.962

IN VENTOR.

MARLIN D. ERICKSON BY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto'a button-member or the like connected to a fabric without thenecessities of the usual needle and thread and one which is releasablyclamped to the fabric.

Generally, buttons and the like are interconnected to the fabric througha suitable thread which is applied through appropriate openings in thebutton and the fabric by use of a suitable needle. Buttons and likemembers have been suggested which can be attached to the fabric by apiercing shaft and a suitable clamping member. Generally, suchdetachable members have employed a shaft member with a relativelycomplicated interconnecting grommet arrangement. Further, each unit isgenerally constructed for connection to a particular fabric thicknesssuch as a shirt or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is particularlydirected to a button-like element or the like for releasableinterconnection to fabrics of different thickness with a firm andreliable releasable connection. Generally, in accordance with thepresent invention, a button-like member is connected with a coupling orconnecting shaft and a clamping grommet which are constructed with aninterconnecting lip and notch connection means to produce a firm andreliable connection. Further, in accordance with the present inventionthe connection means permits changing of the spacing between thebutton-like member and grommet with at least two fixed differentdistances, depending upon the interconnection between the grommet andthe shaft.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the grommet isprovided with a lip adaptedto match with a slot in the shaft. Thegrommet has an outer flange portion which extends axially of the shaftfrom the lip such that insertion in one direction establishes a firstspacing while insertion in the diametrically opposite position providesa completely different spacing. Further, the shaft may be provided witha plurality of notches to permit adjustment for different spacing andwith the novel lip and flange grommet provides a substantial number ofdiffering spacings for accommodating a large number of differentthicknesses.

Further, the connecting stem and grommet opening may be formed of arelatively square configuration to provide a more positive interlockbetween the members.

The present invention thus provides a novel buttonlike structure whichcan be readily connected to fabrics of widely differing thicknesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing furnished herewithillustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor forcarrying out the subject invention in which the above advantages andfeatures are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be readilyunderstood from the following description of such embodiment.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a button constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the button structure shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternate assembly of thestructure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating analternate construction; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing andparticularly to FIG. 1, the present invention is illustrated inconnection with a conventional appearing button 1 having the usualthread openings simulated by appropriately spaced black dots or the likeand interconnected to a fabric 2 in accordance with the teaching of thepresent invention. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1through 3, a shaft or stem 3 is integrally connected to the backside ofthe button 1 and extends outwardly through the fabric 2. A specialflanged grommet 4 is releasably secured to the protruding and outer endof the shaft 3 and releasably clamps the button 1 to the fabric 2. Inaccordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, theshaft 3 is provided with a notch to which the flanged grommet 4 issecured in either of two positions shown respectively in FIGS. 1 and 4,to provide for alternate spacings between the backside of the button 1and the opposing and adjacent face of the grommet 4.

More particularly in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, theshaft 3 is shown having a generally round cross-section and terminatingin the outer end in a slightly pointed end 5 to permit ready piercing ofa fabric 2. The shaft 3 is provided with an annular detent or recess 6spaced rearwardly from the button 1 generally in accordance with amaximum thickness material or fabric 2 to which the button 1 is to besecured.

The grommet 4 includes a radial continuous lip of base portion 7 havinga central opening 8 having a diameter somewhat larger than the size ofthe shaft 3 portion within the annular recess 6. In addition the grommet4 includes an outer flange 9 integrally connected to the outer edge ofthe base portion 7. The inner surface of the flange 9 is spaced upwardlyof the shaft 3.

The shaft 3 is formed of a relatively rigid material while the grommet 4and particularly the base or lip portion 7 is formed of a relativelyflexible material. As a result the grommet 4 can be forced over thepointed end 5 of the shaft 3 with the lip 7 moving inwardly into therecess 6 to securely interconnect the grommet 4 to the shaft 3.

With the grommet 4 attached as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the baseportion 7 of the grommet 4 is in opposing facing relation to thebutton 1. Consequently, a first predetermined distance is establishedtherebetween permitting a relatively thick material or fabric 2.

Alternatively, the grommet 4 can be reversed (Fig. 4) and applied to theshaft with the outer edge of flange 9 in opposed, facing relationship tothe button 1. As a result with the lip 7 engaged with the annular recess6 the forwardly projecting flange 9 defines a relatively inwardly spacedclamping face, thereby reducing the space between the button 1 and theclamping face of the grommet 4 to provide relativelysecureinterconnection to a relatively thin fabric 2.

By employing a flexible lip grommet 4 the button 1 can be attached andreadily removed while establishing a firm and reliable interconnectionof the button to fabric 2. This may be of particular significance inconnection with washing of various garments and the like where it isdesirable to remove the button, because of some adverse effect such asthe particular material from which the button is constructed. Further,it might provide for easier ironing or other processing of the garment.

The present invention thus provides a highly versatile, releasablebutton construction which can be rapidly attached and removed from agarment without the necessity of the usual threadingand sewingoperation.

Further, to further increase the thickness or the variability of thethickness of thefabric 2 to which the button 1 might be secured, theshaft and grommet can be modified as shown in Figs. and 6, wherein thecorresponding elements of the previous embodiment are similarly numberedfor simplicity and clarity of explanation. in the embodiment of FIGS. 5and 6, the button l is secured to a shaft 3 having a second notch orrecess spaced from the first recess 6. The shaft may have a squarecross-section to firmly interlock with the grommet. The selectiveinterconnection of the grommet 4 to the two notches 6 and 10 provides ameans further increasing the variations in acceptable fabric thickness.For example, the double notched unit with a flanged grommet 4 of FIGS.1-4 would permit assembly of the button unit with four differentfabrics.

Further, if desired, the grommet 4 can be formed with a secondoppositely extending flange 11 which projects axially of the otherflange 9, with one of the flanges 9 or 11 interconnected to the baseportion 7 in a break-away manner such as by a thin connection portion'12 in the flange 11. Each clamping recess and the.

dual flanged grommet 4 would permit interconnection of the single buttonunit to three different sized fabrics. Thus, the double notched stem 3would allow the interconnection to six different thicknesses of fabric.

The present invention thus provides a single unit construction which isvery versatile and can be applied to a relatively large different numberof fabrics in a simple, reliable and inexpensive manner. Althoughdescribed in the preferred embodiment as applied to a flat buttonmember, the invention is equally applicable to any other similar smallmember to beattached to clothing and the terminology button-likeassembly is used to broadly cover button members and other similar smallelements.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following over the fre end f said shaft fro eiter end f the grommet, said sha and grommet i r iclufling a re easableinterengaging lip means and recess means defining a locking means tolock said grommet to said shaft, said grommet having at least twoclamping surfaces differentially axially spaced in relation to and tothe opposite sides of said locking means and being reversibly mountableon said shaft to define at least two different releasably fixedpositions defining two different spacements between the grommet and thebutton-like member in accordance with the clamping surface located infacing relation to said button-like member and thereby adapting saidbutton-like assembly for connection to corresponding differentthicknesses of fabric.

2. The detachable button of claim 1 wherein said recess means is formedin said shaft and said grommet includes an apertured base defining saidlip means engaging said notch means, said grommet having an outer flangeprojecting from said base in one direction further than in the oppositedirection to thereby define said spacements in accordance with theattachment of said grommet to said shaft.

3. The detachable button-like assembly of claim 1 wherein said recessmeans includes a recess on said shaft, and said grommet includes a lipselectively engaging said recesses and an outer flange projectingaxially of said lip to define said different spacements.

4. The detachable button-like assembly of claim 1 wherein said recessmeans is formed as an annular recess in said shaft and said grommet isformed of a resilientvrubberlike tubular member and includes anapertured base defining a'flexible lip means having an opening less thanthe size of the shaft and larger than the base of the recess, saidgrommet including oppositely extending locating elements secured to saidbase and at least one of said elements being secured with a break-awayconnection.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said elements are each an outerflange projecting from said base in one direction further than in theopposite direction to thereby define said spacements in accordance withthe attachment of said grommet to said shaft.

6. The detachable button-like assembly of claim 1 wherein said shaftwithin said recess means has a square cross-section to firmly interlockwith the grommet.

1. A detachable button-like assembly for selective releasable connectionto fabrics of different thickness, comprising a button-like member, ashaft connected to said button-like member and having a free outer end,a grommet having an opening therethrough and slidably over the free endof said shaft from either end of the grommet, said shaft and grommetincluding a releasable interengaging lip means and recess means defininga locking means to lock said grommet to said shaft, said grommet havingat least two clamping surfaces differentially axially spaced in relationto and to the opposite sides of said locking means and being reversiblymountable on said shaft to define at least two different releasablyfixed positions defining two different spacements between the grommetand the button-like member in accordance with the clamping surfacelocated in facing relation to said button-like member and therebyadapting said button-like assembly for connection to correspondingdifferent thicknesses of fabric.
 2. The detachable button of claim 1wherein said recess means is formed in said shaft and said grommetincludes an apertured base defining said lip means engaging said notchmeans, said grommet having an outer flange projecting from said base inone direction further than in the opposite direction to thereby definesaid spacements in accordance with the attachment of said grommet tosaid shaft.
 3. The detachable button-like assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid recess means includes a recess on said shaft, and said grommetincludes a lip selectively engaging said recesses and an outer flangeprojecting axially of said lip to define said different spacements. 4.The detachable button-like assembly of claim 1 whereIn said recess meansis formed as an annular recess in said shaft and said grommet is formedof a resilient rubberlike tubular member and includes an apertured basedefining a flexible lip means having an opening less than the size ofthe shaft and larger than the base of the recess, said grommet includingoppositely extending locating elements secured to said base and at leastone of said elements being secured with a break-away connection.
 5. Theassembly of claim 4 wherein said elements are each an outer flangeprojecting from said base in one direction further than in the oppositedirection to thereby define said spacements in accordance with theattachment of said grommet to said shaft.
 6. The detachable button-likeassembly of claim 1 wherein said shaft within said recess means has asquare cross-section to firmly interlock with the grommet.